Danette began acting professionally on the stage at age 67.
One of her first substantial roles was opposite James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope.
In The New York Times Theatre Reviews 1999-2000, D. J. R. Brickner wrote of her performance in Uncle Jack, noting that she was a "Broadway veteran" who imbued her role of Mary with a "touching authenticity".
When Leila Danette celebrated her 100th birthday she had a party in her honor attended by family and friends, including Joe Turner of Amityville. Turner reported that she didn't walk too well but drove a "mean scooter.".
She was an American stage, film and television actress.
Before becoming an actress, she worked as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore and taught speech to students in Washington, D.C.
Danette attended both Morgan State University and Howard University.
In 1982, she was noted for her performance in The Brothers.
In addition to stage roles, Danette appeared in several films including The First Deadly Sin (1980) and Garbo Talks (1984).
She was noted for her stage work and for her role as Helen on the short-lived television sitcom, You Take the Kids.